Water ski construction



25, 1964 H. c. JACKSON WATER SKI CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1962 d in MR I Harvey C. Jackson INVENTOR. BY @Mmm W -MM,

g- 25, 1964 H. c. JACKSON 3,145,399

WATER SKI CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllllllu Harvey C. Jackson 1N VEN TOR.

BY @Awm United States Patent m 3,145,399 WATER SKI CUNSTRUETTON Harvey C. Jackson, R0. Box 143, Escaion, Caiif. Filed Oct. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 229,033 11 Claims. (Cl. 9-310) This invention relates to a novel and useful water ski construction and more specifically to a water ski construction constructed in a manner whereby it may be used in a manner simulatingboth a pair of water skis and a water toboggan.

Although the water ski construction is hereinafter described primarily in its use as a water vehicle, it is to be noted that it may also be used as a snow vehicle.

While water and snow skiing are exciting sports and much enjoyment may be realized by persons having skill in these sports, there are many persons who would like to enjoy these two sports but who for various reasons, such as having their homes in areas where the necessary facilities for these sports are not available, are unable to do so. These persons might occasionally visit areas where snow skiing and water skiing are popular but skill in sports such as snow and water skiing is not easy to obtain when a person can engage in these sports only ocassionally.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide a ski construction which will enable persons not skilled in snow or water skiing to enjoy many of the exciting aspects of these two sports.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ski construction in accordance with the preceding object constructed in a manner whereby the ski construction may be ridden While in a standing position or in a seated position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ski construction having structural features thereof which will afford maximum stability to the ski construction without excessively altering the main structural features of the ski construction which might cause the ski construction to be unable to be ridden in a manner simulating conventional snow and water skiing.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ski construction which may be ridden in a seated position and at slow speeds as well as high speeds on both snow and water thereby enabling the ski construction to be utilized by semi-paralyzed and otherwise handicapped persons.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a water ski construction in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ski construction of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the water ski construction;

FIGURE 4 is a rear end elevational view of the water ski construction;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 56 of FIGURE 2.

Patented Aug. 25, 1964 Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the water ski construction of the instant invention.

The water ski construction 10 comprises an elongated ski body generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 which includes a narrow forward end portion 14 that terminates rearwardly in a Wider center section 16 defined by a pair of opposite side stub portions 18 and 20. The opposite side stub portions 18 and 20 project outwardly beyond the opposite sides of the narrow forward end portion 14 and the remote edges 22 and 24 of the stub portions 18 and 20 are rearwardly convergent and terminate adjacent the rear end of the ski body 12. The forward ends of the forward end section 14 and stub portions 18 and 20 are provided with upwardly curving toe portions 26 and 28 and 30 respectively.

The toe portions 26, 28 and 30 are somewhat flexible and are approximately one-half the thickness of the forward end and stub portions, which portions are notched as at 32 and 34 for the reception of the rear ends of the toe portions 26, 28 and 36 respectively. The toe portions 26, 2S and 30 are secured to the ski body 12 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 36.

The ski body 12 is substantially planar and the stub portions 18 and 2% are provided with shoe elements 38 and 4% for the reception of the feet of the person using the ski construction it In addition, a pair of openings 42 and 44 are formed in the ski body 12 forwardly of the shoe elements 38 and 40. A retractable drag member generally referred to by the reference numeral 46 is pivotally mounted in each opening 42 and 44 by means of a hinge 48. Each drag member is triangular in cross section including a base leg 50 and a pair of upwardly convergent legs 52 and 54 interconnected at their upper ends. An abutment bar 56 is secured across each opening by means of fasteners 58 and a compression spring 60 is disposed between the apex 62 of each drag member 46 and the corresponding abutment 56. The compression spring 60 therefore normally resiliently urges the corresponding drag member 46 toward the retracted position illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. However, should a person press downwardly on either leg 52 of the drag members 46, the free forward end of the corresponding drag member 46 will be pivoted downwardly to the position illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. This of course will effect a drag on the corresponding side of the ski body 12 and tend to turn the ski body 12 in a direction toward the side thereof whose drag member 46 is in the lowered extended position. If the ski construction is being used on water, the drag members 46 may alternately be extended in order to cause the ski construction 10 to follow a wavy course. In addition, should the ski construction be utilized on snow, movement of either of the drag members toward the extended position will effect a turn of the ski construction in the corresponding direction. Additionally, the drag members 46 may be simultaneously depressed toward the extended position in order to slow or stop the ski construction when being utilized on snow.

A seat assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 66 is provided and includes an inverted U-shaped leg assembly 68 including a pair of depending legs 70 and 72 interconnected at their upper ends by means of a bight portion 74 to whose upper surface a seat element 76 is secured. The lower ends of the legs 70 and 72 are secured to the rear ends of the stub portions 18 and 20 respectively in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 78.

The seat construction 66 also includes a longitudinally extending horizontally disposed handle assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 80 which comprises a third leg for the seat element or portion 76. The

handle assembly 80 includes an upper horizontal member 82 which is substantially horizontally aligned with the seat element 76 and the handle assembly 80 is secured to the center of the ski body 12 by means of a pair of apertured mounts 84 and 86 having fasteners 88 secured therethrough and in the ski body 12.

It will be noted that the seat construction 66 is disposed on the rear end of the ski body 12 and that the shoe elements 38 and 46 are disposed forwardly of the seat construction66 and in a position relative to the latter enabling a person seated upon the seat element 76 to position his feet within the shoe elements 38 and 40.

A pair of stub wings 90 and 92 are secured to the stub portions 18 and 20 respectively at their rear ends by means of fasteners 94. The stub wings 90 and 92 overlie the upper surfaces of the stub portions 18 and 20 and are therefore slightly elevated above the lower surface of the ski body 12. The stub wings 90 and92 offer considerable support against tilting of the ski construction about its longitudinal axis and yet provide stability without reducing the maneuverability of the ski construction 10.

A skeg 98 is secured to the undersurface of the ski body 12 along its longitudinal centerline in any con-. venient manner and is utilized to prevent excessive lateral slipping of the rear end of the ski body 12. The skeg 98 may be of any suitable size to provide the desired results and may be removed if it is desired to provide a water ski construction which may be made to fishtail. Also, the skeg 98 is removed when the ski construction It is to be utilized on snow.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ski construction comprising an elongated ski body including a narrow forward end portion terminating rearwardly in a wider center section defined by a pair of opposite side stub portions projecting laterally outwardly beyond the opposite sides of said forward end portion, the forward ends of said forward end portion and the opposite side portions each including a forwardly and upwardly curving toe portion, said ski body, rearwardly of the forward ends of the center section, including stub wings projecting outwardly beyond the remote side edges of said stub portions and having lower surfaces raised relative to the adjacent lower surfaces of said stub portions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ski body other than said toe portions, is substantially planar.

3. A ski construction comprising an elongated 'ski body including a narrow forward end portion terminating rearwardly in a wider center section defined by a pair of opposite side stub portions projecting laterally outwardly beyond the opposite sides of said forward end portion, the remote edges of said stub portions being rearwardly convergent and terminating adjacent the rear end of said body, the forward ends of said forward end section and opposite side portions each including a forwardly and upwardly curving toe portion, said ski body other than said toe portions being substantially planar, said ski body, rearwardly of the forward ends of said center section, including stub wings projecting outwardly beyond said remote edges of said stub portions and having lower surfaces raised relative to the adjacent lower surfaces of said stub portions.

4. A ski construction comprising an elongated ski body including a narrow forward end portion terminating rearwardly in a wider center section defined by a pair of opposite side stub portions projecting laterally outwardly beyond the opposite sides of said forward end portion, the remote side edges of said stub portions being rearwardly convergent and terminating adjacent the rear end of said body, the forward ends'of said forward end portion and opposite side portions each including a forwardly and upwardly curving toe portion, saidstub portions each including retractable drag members mounted for movement between retracted positions raised above the lower surface of said body and lowered positions projecting below the lower surface of said body through an opening formed in the corresponding stub portion, said drag members, when in the retracted positions, including planar undersurfaces forming continuations of the portions of the undersurfaces of said body adjacent said openings.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stub portions each include shoe means adapted to receive the corresponding foot of the user of the ski construction.

6. The combination of claim 5 including a raised seat mounted on the rear end of said ski body.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said raised seat includes a horizontally disposed seat portion and an elongated longitudinally extending and horizontally disposed handle disposed in substantial alignment with said seat portion and disposed immediately forwardly thereof.

8. A ski construction comprising an elongated ski body including a narrow forward end portion terminating rearwardly in a wider center section defined by a pair of opposite side stub portions projecting laterally outwardly beyond the opposite sides of said forward end portion, the remote edges of said stub portions being rearwardly convergent and terminating adjacent the rear end of said body, the forward ends of said forward end section and opposite side portions each including a forwardly and upwardly curving toe portion, said ski body, rearwardly of the forward ends of said center section, including stub wings projecting outwardly beyond said remote edges of said stub portions and having lower surfaces raised relativeto the adjacent lower surfaces of said stub portions.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said stub portions each include retractable drag members mounted for movement between retracted positions raised above the lower surface of said body and lowered positions projecting below the lower surface of said body.

10. The combination of claim 9 including a raised seat mounted on the rear end of said ski body.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said raised seat includes a horizontally disposed seat portion and an elongated longitudinally extending and horizontally disposed handle disposed in substantial alignment with said seat portion and disposed immediately forwardly thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SKI CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SKI BODY INCLUDING A NARROW FORWARD END PORTION TERMINATING REARWARDLY IN A WIDER CENTER SECTION DEFINED BY A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE STUB PORTIONS PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FORWARD END PORTION, THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID FORWARD END PORTION AND THE OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS EACH INCLUDING A FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY CURVING TOE PORTION, SAID SKI BODY, REARWARDLY OF THE FORWARD ENDS OF THE CENTER SECTION, INCLUDING STUB WINGS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE REMOTE SIDE EDGES OF SAID STUB PORTIONS AND HAVING LOWER SURFACES RAISED RELATIVE TO THE ADJACENT LOWER SURFACES OF SAID STUB PORTIONS. 